ROBERT HUGHES FROM GRIMSBY SENTENCED FOR SEXUAL OFFENSES INVOLVING TEENAGE GIRL IN BELFAST
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Grimsby Child Sexual Abuser
In a case that has sparked outrage and disappointment, Robert Hughes, a resident of Pershore Avenue in Grimsby, was sentenced to a total of 12 months in prison for serious sexual offenses involving a teenage girl from Belfast. The court proceedings revealed a disturbing pattern of grooming and exploitation that culminated in a meeting in Belfast where Hughes engaged in sexual activity with the 15-year-old girl.
During the sentencing at Belfast Crown Court, it was disclosed that Hughes, aged 25, had initially established contact with the girl through a mobile phone chat room. The girl, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, was in her mid-teens and used her real name in the online conversations. Hughes and the girl maintained daily contact through various means, including text messages and telephone calls. Hughes claimed during interviews that the girl had told him she was 17 and attending college, but the girl later clarified that she had told him she was only 14 at the time.
It was further revealed that six months after their initial contact, Hughes, who had expressed love for the girl, invited her to visit him in Grimsby. However, the girl suggested that Hughes come to Belfast instead. In July 2004, Hughes traveled to Belfast, where he met the girl at a hotel. During this meeting, he presented her with gifts and engaged in sexual activity with her. Hughes later claimed that he only discovered her true age the day after their encounter, when they met again.
The judge, Babington, described the grooming as a 'serious offence' and emphasized that, despite the girl’s emotional maturity, it was Hughes’s responsibility to recognize the boundaries and say no. The court sentenced Hughes to 12 months in prison for unlawful sexual activity with a minor, with an additional concurrent 12 months for meeting her following the grooming. Beyond the custodial sentence, Hughes was placed on probation for two years and mandated to participate in a community sex offenders group work program for 180 hours. Furthermore, he was banned indefinitely from working with children and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for a period of 10 years.
The mother of the girl expressed her outrage at the sentence, describing it as 'disgraceful.' She stated, 'As a mother, no sentence would be long enough for me but realistically, sex offenders do not get the sentence they deserve. The fact is these criminals, these sex offenders, they are paedophiles and they are taken by the hand and their victims are slapped to the side.' Her words reflect the deep frustration and sense of injustice felt by many who believe that the punishment does not match the severity of the crime committed against her daughter.
During the sentencing at Belfast Crown Court, it was disclosed that Hughes, aged 25, had initially established contact with the girl through a mobile phone chat room. The girl, whose identity is protected for legal reasons, was in her mid-teens and used her real name in the online conversations. Hughes and the girl maintained daily contact through various means, including text messages and telephone calls. Hughes claimed during interviews that the girl had told him she was 17 and attending college, but the girl later clarified that she had told him she was only 14 at the time.
It was further revealed that six months after their initial contact, Hughes, who had expressed love for the girl, invited her to visit him in Grimsby. However, the girl suggested that Hughes come to Belfast instead. In July 2004, Hughes traveled to Belfast, where he met the girl at a hotel. During this meeting, he presented her with gifts and engaged in sexual activity with her. Hughes later claimed that he only discovered her true age the day after their encounter, when they met again.
The judge, Babington, described the grooming as a 'serious offence' and emphasized that, despite the girl’s emotional maturity, it was Hughes’s responsibility to recognize the boundaries and say no. The court sentenced Hughes to 12 months in prison for unlawful sexual activity with a minor, with an additional concurrent 12 months for meeting her following the grooming. Beyond the custodial sentence, Hughes was placed on probation for two years and mandated to participate in a community sex offenders group work program for 180 hours. Furthermore, he was banned indefinitely from working with children and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for a period of 10 years.
The mother of the girl expressed her outrage at the sentence, describing it as 'disgraceful.' She stated, 'As a mother, no sentence would be long enough for me but realistically, sex offenders do not get the sentence they deserve. The fact is these criminals, these sex offenders, they are paedophiles and they are taken by the hand and their victims are slapped to the side.' Her words reflect the deep frustration and sense of injustice felt by many who believe that the punishment does not match the severity of the crime committed against her daughter.